With the 2024 Olympic Games on the horizon, Paris is preparing to welcome the world by making its city a more sports-friendly environment. The city’s deputy mayor for sports, Jean-François Martins, unveiled the “Paris, City of Sport” plan, a comprehensive initiative focusing on amateur sports. This plan is designed to address the city’s historic lack of sports facilities, the increasing number of active Parisians, and the need for more convenient access to sports.
Expanding Sports Facilities: Meeting Growing Demand
“Historically, Paris has been under-equipped, suffering from a chronic shortage of sports facilities,” noted Martins. “And the number of people engaging in sports activities is constantly growing.” This realization has fueled the need to create new sports spaces. Between 2014 and 2020, the city is adding 15 new gymnasiums and 3 new swimming pools, ensuring a “major rebalancing” in the availability of these facilities.
To utilize space more efficiently, Paris is also focusing on creating dedicated sports halls. These facilities, which require less land than traditional sports complexes, have been springing up across the city. In 2019, the Ladoumègue site will feature a dojo, a hip-hop dance studio, and a boxing gym.
Recognizing the value of repurposing underutilized urban spaces, Paris has plans to transform existing parking garages into sports centers. An example of this strategy is the parking garage on Rue du Maroc, which will be converted into a boxing gym and a dojo.
A City For Everyone: Creating Accessible Sport
Paris recognizes the importance of accommodating a wide range of sports enthusiasts. However, creating new large-scale sports fields (for football and rugby, which require almost 1 hectare of space) within the city limits presents a significant challenge. While Paris has invested in sports facilities outside the city (in Puteaux and Choisy-le-Roi), it’s also focused on developing small, neighborhood-friendly sports areas. In 2019, five such mini-fields will be created in different districts, ensuring access to outdoor sports for more Parisians.
Bringing Sports to the People: Innovative Programs for All
Martins envisions a city where “every Parisian is within a 5-minute walk of a free sports facility.” To achieve this goal, the city is launching innovative programs. Beginning this spring, free weekend classes (fitness, Zumba, etc.) will be offered in parks like André Citroën, Montsouris, and Martin Luther King, as well as in public squares like Nation, Bastille, Madeleine, and Place des Fêtes.
Starting in September, the city will introduce “Sporty Lunch Breaks,” a program that provides access to over 30 sports facilities for Parisians looking to incorporate physical activity into their workday. The city is also planning to keep at least one swimming pool open at all hours, and will offer 40 evening swimming sessions between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
By 2020, a 4.4-kilometer “urban sports trail” will be operational between Nation and Stalingrad. This trail will be a vibrant and exciting addition to the city, offering residents a unique opportunity to enjoy a variety of sports activities within a scenic urban environment.
Supporting Sports Clubs and Simplifying Access
Beyond the physical infrastructure, Paris is committed to strengthening the role of sports clubs in the city. To streamline club activities, Paris is offering clubs two-year time slots for using facilities (instead of the current one-year system) and encouraging clubs to consolidate their activities in one location. In 2019, 17 club houses will be created to provide dedicated spaces for clubs to operate. To further support clubs, Paris will launch a comprehensive volunteer training program.
For Parisians, the city will launch the “Where to Play Sports in Paris” tool. This online resource, accessible on Paris.fr, will allow users to search for sports activities based on their location, sport of interest, and availability. This initiative will significantly simplify the process of finding a suitable sports activity and make it more convenient for Parisians to participate in sports.
Paris: A City Embracing Sports for All
Paris is undergoing a transformation, embracing sports as a key component of urban life. The “Paris, City of Sport” plan is a comprehensive effort to create a more inclusive and active city for all residents. By expanding access to sports facilities, offering innovative programs, and supporting the development of sports clubs, Paris is paving the way for a healthier, more dynamic city, ready to welcome the world in 2024.
